Convertible post hole digger



Nov 17, 1936.

R. T. WATSON CONVERTIBLE POST HOLE DIGGER I Filed March 2 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORN EY NW. 17, 1936. WATSON 2,061,218

CONVERTIBLE POST HOLE DIGGER Filed March 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY myww li;

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1936 This invention relates to postholediggers, and

has for the primary object the provision of a power driven device whichmay be conveniently mounted to a tractor or similar device to receive 15 power therefrom and to be easily moved from one place to another asthe holes are made and also are to be employed for reeling fence wire.

With theseand other objects in view, this invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following dey .scription and accompanying drawings, in which Figure1 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a tractor equipped with apost hole digger I constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating the'same.

- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional d-'-d of Figure 3.

5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an end -.view illustrating a reel.

Figure 7 is a plan view, partly in section, illus- I trating the reel.

Referring in detail to thedrawings, the numeral l indicates a suitablesupporting frame mounted in any convenient manner to a tractor 2. Thesupporting frame I includes upper and lower journals 3 which rotatablysupport a vertically arranged tubular casing t. The casing has securedthereto a pulley belt 5 for the pur-- pose of receiving an endlessbeltdriven by the tractor. The ends of the casing form journals for a shaft6 which extends above and below the casing and has secured to its lowerportion an auger l in the form of a spiral strip to which is removablysecured acutter 8. The upper end of the shaft has removably securedthereto a handle 9. The auger and its cutter 8 may be raised and loweredwith respect to the ground by endwise sliding movement of the shaftthrough the employment of thehandle Q.

A drive is provided between the casing and the shaft and consists of aplate I0 threaded to the shaft and engaged by lock nuts ll also threadedto the shaft. Extensions l2 are formed on the plate and project throughslots it formed in the casing. Journaled to the extensions l2 arerollers M which ride upon tracks l5 adjustably secured to the caslngl.The tracks I! may bead- Figure 5. is a sectional view taken on theline-OFFICE justed=towards and from the rollers I 4 by set bolts I 6.. Thedrive means between the shaft and the casing will permit said shaft toslide freely in an endwise direction but which will cause rotation ofthe shaft by the rotation of the casing. 5 A guard i1 is secured to thelower end of the casing with the shaft 6 extending therethrough. Theguard I! includes fins l8 acting to distribute the dirt elevated by theauger I. The guard r0- tates with the casing when the latter is drivenby 10 .power obtained by the tractor. The shaft 6 ropower obtained fromthe tractor.

- lected place for drilling another hole.

view taken on the line The upper ends of the slots l3 have notches 19 incommunication therewith in which the extensions of the plate Ill maymove when it is desired to hold the shaft against a downward 25movement. The securing of the shaft by the notches is desirable whenemploying a reel 20 on the upper portion of the shaft. The reel is inthe form of a tubular sleeve 2| having detachably se- .cured theretoradially extending arms 22. The 30 arms form part of the sleeve orcollar threaded to the sleeve 2!. An anchoring eye 23 is provided on oneof the collars to which one end of a fence wire may be secured when itis desired to wind the wire onto the sleeve 2|. The sleeve is 5secured-to the shaft by a set bolt 26 whereby the reel is caused torotate the shaft 8. After winding of the wire onto the reel the lattermay be removed from the shaft and also the reel arms may be detachedfrom the sleeve 2|. allowing 4o the latter to remain in the wound wire.A number of sleeves 2| may,be provided and the reel arms 22 readilyadapted thereto. I

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A portable post hole digger comprising a 45 supporting structuremounted to a tractor, a casing journaled to said supporting structure,means for rotating said casing by power received from the tractor, a.shaft journaled in said casin boring means secured to said shaft, ahandle se- 50 cured to said shaft for moving the latter endwise,

a plate secured'to the shaft, said casing having slots, extensionsformed on the plate and extending through the slots, adjustable tracksmounted on said casing. adjacent the slots, rollers journaled to saidextensions and engaging the tracks for establishing a drive between theshaft and the easing and capable of permitting endwise movement of theshaft with'respe'ct to said casing.

2. A portable post hole digger comprising a supporting structure mountedto a tractor, a casing journaled to said supporting structure, means forrotating said "casing by power received from the tractor, a shaftjournaled in said casing, boring means secured to. saidshaft, a handlesecured to said shaft for moving the latter end;

wise, a plate secured to the shaft, said casing anemia having slotsprovided with lateral branches, extensions formed on the plate andextending through the slots, adjustable tracks mounted on said casingadjacent thetslots, and rollers journaled to said extensions andengaging the tracks 7 for establishing a drive between the shaft and thecasing vand capable of permitting endwise movement of the shaft withrespect to said casing, said extension movable into the branches of theslots to prevent endwise movement of the 10 shaft. v

- R. T. WATSON.

